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As part of our efforts to further improve maternity and newborn care, Grampians Health Ballarat has taken several steps and have reinforced our commitment to safely reduce preterm and early term birth rates among our patients.

By being an active participant in The National Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at significantly reducing preterm and early term birth rates across Australia, we are committed to achieving a 20% reduction in preterm and early term births across our health service.

Preterm birth, defined as childbirth before 37 weeks of pregnancy, and early term birth, which occurs between 37 and 39 weeks of pregnancy, can pose significant health risks for both mothers and infants

Grampians Health Ballarat is addressing this critical issue by implementing evidence-based strategies, including supporting smoking cessation, measuring cervical length during mid-pregnancy, and avoiding planned births before 39 weeks without a clear medical indication.

“Benefits of full-term birth (birth lasting more than 39 weeks) for both mothers and babies are becoming more evident with the advent of latest research. Through evidence-based changes in clinical care, Grampians Health Ballarat is committed to safely reducing preterm and early term births, and in turn contributing to improved health outcomes for women and babies,” said Dr Natasha Frawley, Clinical Director – Women and Children’s Services, Grampians Health.

Grampians Health is delighted to also host Associate Professor Stefan Kane from Safer Care Victoria and Professor John Newnham from the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance in Ballarat on Tuesday, 3 October to further celebrate the work done in Ballarat in reducing preterm births.

Funded by the Commonwealth Government, The National Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative is spearheaded by the Australian Preterm Prevention Alliance (the Alliance) in partnership with Women’s Healthcare Australasia (WHA), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and Safer Care Victoria (SCV). Leveraging the IHI’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model, this 18-month national initiative will disseminate evidence-based strategies to participating maternity hospitals across Australia.

These strategies are rooted in successful peer-reviewed initiatives implemented in Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and Tasmania, as well as global efforts dedicated to achieving similar goals.

One of Grampians Health’s notable achievements as part of the initiative is the introduction of the Birth Liaison Midwife (BLM) role, which commenced in June 2023.

The BLM serves as a central coordinator for all planned births at Ballarat and plays a key role in streamlining all the booking requests. The BLM also reviews the requests against clinical guidelines and ensures that the timing of birth aligns with medical recommendations rather than calendar availability or workflow issues.

“This approach enhances continuity of care and improves the overall booking experience for women,” said Dr Frawley.

The BLM also serves as a point of contact for women with questions about their planned birth experience.

“Grampians Health Ballarat is excited to be part of The National Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative and we look forward to collaborating with healthcare professionals, experts, and stakeholders from across Australia to make a meaningful difference in the lives of women and their newborns,” said Carolyn Robertson, Director of Women and Children’s Services at Grampians Health.